Two Norfolk farms listed among the best in the country

Two innovative Norfolk farms have been shortlisted among the best in the country as finalists for the 2019 British Farming Awards.

Nominated in the Dairy Innovator of the Year
category are Jonny and Carrie Burridge who run a dairy herd in
Fundenhall, near Wymondham.

It employs hi-tech
robotic milking machines and computerised herd tracking, with projects
in the pipeline including new milk vending machines to increase consumer
engagement at a business which is already involved with Open Farm
Sunday and has recently opened a maize maze to encourage more families
onto the farm.

Mr Burridge said: “It is a great
honour to be nominated, but I would rather give credit to the team at
the farm and recognise their hard work.

“We try
our best to do everything to the best standard we can, whether it is
using the best technology to achieve the best standard of animal welfare
and performance from our cows, to promoting the industry and giving
people the opportunity to enjoy the farm on Open Farm Sunday, and having
the chance to learn something along the way. I think it is nice to be
recognised, and it can be a springboard to raise the profile of East
Anglia.”

Mrs Burridge added: “We don’t do this
for the recognition, we just do what we do. There are not a lot of dairy
farms in the area but we have got some very good ones, so it is nice to
represent them and put Norfolk on the map.”

Meanwhile,
Norfolk’s other finalist is Jason Borthwick of Deepdale Backpackers and
Camping in north Norfolk, which was nominated in the Diversification
Innovator of the Year (Large) category.

Mr
Borthwick said the company had been recognised for “doing
diversification differently” including its customer service, the
Deepdale Visitor Information Centre, and the wide range of music and
events which support local artisans and producers.

“We’d
like to thank all the crew, the customers who have supported us and
continue to do so, the contractors and friends who have helped us build
(and repair), the musicians who have played, the street food vendors who
have cooked, and all the other mix of individuals and companies who
have joined us on the journey so far and into the future,” he said.

“On
a personal note, I’d like to thank Chris and Alister my business
partners. Chris particularly for training the crew, and instilling
customer service at the heart of what we do. Alister (Dad) for his
belief and financial support in what we do. And to all our crew, farm or
tourism, who support our mad ideas, believe in where we are going, and
entertain us along the journey route.”

The two Norfolk contenders are among the 56
farmers and growers who will compete for the 14 category titles at the
2019 awards final, organised by AgriBriefing and hosted at the National
Conference Centre in Birmingham on October 17.